Rammaytush Word of the Day

We are sending out daily “Rammaytush Word of the Day” emails during the month of April, 2025. Each email will contain a Rammaytush word, its English translation, and (often a link to) the audio from one of our Rammaytush relatives. If you would like to be part of our mailing list, you can sign up here.

You can view the full list of words sent so far at Rammaytush.info.

Basket Circle

The bi-monthly basket circle offers a way to connect with practices of our ancestors, and to create with natural materials in community. Our focus for Spring 2023 and through 2024 was on coil basketry. We learned about the gathering and processing of materials such as pine needles and kelp, as well as a variety of stitches used to construct the baskets. We began 2025 working with Tule. In our first class, we made Tule dolls, Tule mats and cordage! We will continue working with tule in April and June. Please get in touch if you are interested in joining us!

Language Class

We are working to revitalize the Rammaytush language through a partnership with linguists from the University of California, Berkeley. Our study group meets weekly to learn the language and, though the Rammaytush language has not been spoken in over 100 years, we are learning to construct sentences from the available records of our language, and what is known of neighboring languages. Those who are on our mailing list will be receiving a Rammaytush word of the day for the month of April 2025! (And there will be a recording of a Rammaytush relative speaking each word of the day!)

Renaming ‘Burnham’ (El Granada Community) Park

For thousands of years, ‘Chiwan’ (pronounced CHEE-Guan) was the Indigenous name for the area encompassing El Granada when the Indigenous Rammaytush people thrived here. The Rammaytush did not stay in one spot on this land as we tend to today. They lived transitory lives – moving in harmony with the seasons, land, creeks, sky and sea. 

Renaming the park is not only beneficial to the children and future generations, but is also a way of acknowledging and honoring the ancestors and living descendants of the Rammaytush people who lived in reciprocity with the land currently called El Granada.  We believe that re-establishing environmentally responsible principles today starts with the naming of this park and the programs it could offer.  The Chiwan name offers an enriched perspective and the hope of a wider appreciation of the land, its care, and history.